Learning begins at home but technically, it will start the moment you enroll your kid to any kindergarten school. Kindergarten is a significant stage in every kid’s life, because it is the transition period from home to formal schooling.

Teaching kindergarten kids is a special opportunity to introduce children to school and instill in them a love of learning. It can be one of the most enjoyable and challenging jobs.

Basic Teaching Methods

1. Conference Learning

Conference learning is a basic teaching method that gives a teacher one-on-one time with each student. This method provides a teacher with a better understanding of a student’s strengths and interests.

2. Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is a teaching method that groups students into pairs or small groups where they are challenged to complete a task. This teaching method promotes peer-to-peer respect and develops an understanding of each others interests, skills and needs.

3. Hands-On Approach

The hands-on approach is a method that encourages students to learn  by example and doing it. Using props help students to learn about abstract concepts, develop critical thinking and solve problems.

4. The Play Method

This method for Kindergarten kids provides ample opportunity for children to play, which in turn develops confidence and social skills. This method helps teachers share experience with the children, present ideas and materials that will help extend the play into a learning experience.

What are Kindergarten Methods of Teaching?

Kindergarten, which literally means a garden for children, comprises a range of early childhood educational practices. The art of teaching kindergarten kids includes different instructional designs to help children learn at their own pace while in a social and collaborative environment. Some of the methods of teaching kindergarten kids are:

1. Play with your students

Young kids are more excited about learning if you make the subject fun. Instead of telling the kids what you’re going to be teaching them, create a story around the information and ask them to play along with you.

2. Make use of toys and tools to introduce basic math

Have your kindergarten kids count blocks, beads, or stickers so they can work on counting large numbers. Use these items to help the kids understand addition and subtraction.

3. Teach the kids excitedly about physical and life science

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Foster that enthusiasm by doing hands-on science activities. For instance, use puppets or small animal toys to teach kids about animals and their environments.

4. Encourage early reading and listening skills

Spend a lot of time reading to your class to develop their pre-reading skills. Since some kids learn better when they see things, show the words to the kids

5. Set clear and consistent behavior expectations

Talk with your class about appropriate behavior and explain to them that they all need to respect each other. If you do see any misbehavior, talk with the student immediately so they learn that, that behavior isn’t acceptable.

6. Help students develop social skills

Kindergarten may be some children’s first experience interacting with a bunch of kids. Encourage the kids to play together and include one another in their schoolwork.

Early Years Education And Care

Early years education and care plays an important role in children’s development. It aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and well being.

UNESCO’s approach is reinforced in the Education 2030 agenda. “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.”

As mothers are increasing in the workforce and most children ages 3 and above now attend a child care facility on a regular basis, it is imperative that young children from all backgrounds should have access to high-quality child care and early education.

Conclusion

The art of teaching Kindergarten kids is nurturing and supportive rather than competitive. Children learn through fun and engaging activities like art and music, transforming playtime into opportunities to instill important cognitive skills, motor skills, and social skills. A good kindergarten program should combine a multitude of teaching methods and instructional designs.

Also, Kindergarten teachers play an integral role in early childhood development by fostering basic intellectual and social foundations. kindergarten teachers should implement several teaching methods that challenge students to express themselves while learning. Teaching kindergarten kids successfully is about finding the right balance between fun and learning.

Helpful Resources

Best Teacher Training Certification Courses

Cache Level 3 Courses for Early Years Workforce

Role of Teachers in Education

Teachers play an essential role in education, most especially in the lives of the students they teach in the classroom. What defines a teacher is his/her ability to teach students and a positive influence on them.

Generally, the role of a teacher in education goes beyond teaching. In today’s world, teaching has different faces, and a teacher has to carry out the part of being an external parent, counselor, mentor, role model, and so on.

Role of teachers in education

• Sharing Knowledge

First things first, the primary duty of a teacher is to impart knowledge, and that comes from teaching. Teaching usually entails following a specific curriculum and ensuring that the students understand what is being taught.

It is from this role that all other roles of a teacher originates from, because if a teacher fails in carrying out his/her basic responsibility to impart knowledge, then it might be difficult to have any other form of influence on the child.

• Role Modeling

Although teachers do not see themselves as role models, the truth is they actually are. The amount of time students spend with teachers each day or week makes it possible for them to have a certain level of influence on the students. It is now down to the teacher to make this influence positive or negative.

Being a teacher goes beyond just teaching according to the curriculum, it is about grooming in the child. Teachers don’t only impart knowledge, but they also help with character building as well.

• An External Parent

The role of a teacher transcends following a specific lesson plan and work schedule. Because both students and teachers spend as much time together, the teacher inadvertently becomes an external parent. Teachers can be a mentor to help set the child on the right path. In this role, the teacher can encourage the student to be the best they can be, and also be a source of inspiration and advice to the students.

Why Are Teachers Important?

Teachers are important because they change lives, inspire dreams, and push the limits of human potential. A teacher’s job is to nurture, teach, and raise children to become useful to society. 

Teachers’ role in the classroom, society, and the world at large has taken a different turn from what it was back in the day. Over time, teachers were given a specific curriculum to follow and instructions on how to teach the curriculum. 

Today, the teachers’ role has gone beyond teaching. Their role now involves counselling students, mentoring students, and teaching them how to use and apply knowledge in their lives. Teachers are now looking for ways to impact students on a different level and even inspire them to be more and do more. 

Do you want to advance or start a career in teaching? If yes, check out some of the online teacher training courses below.

Professional Global Diploma In Education (PGDE)

NCFE CACHE Courses